I've been working (procrastinating) on my 300+ page graphic novel for years now, and I have heard and ignored the "start small" advice soooooo many times... but you've convinced me to actually do it. You've actually made some really good points that I've seen all over the place but never together. So yeah, I'm gonna be cursing YOU when I inevitable get frustrated with the 6 pager 😂 (jk, I appreciate all your videos)
That's great! I encourage you to become a Patron (free membership is fine!) because I'm looking into making a place for people to post their comics and get a community going beyond YT so we can all help each other keep going.
Two big things kept me from making my comic for a long time: 1. Everything has to be perfect. I was always convinced that I needed to have my "style" down before I started a comic. Last year I decided to just jump into the comic idea I've had for years. I'm now on issue 8 (each issue is anywhere from 20-30 pages) and while my art style has evolved from learning and trying new things each issue, it doesn't really bother me that much. I now have the first 5 issues printed in Volume 1 (sold it locally and will put it on my online shop soon). Which leads into number 2: 2. This comic needs to make money or I'm a failure. I'm really enjoying the process when I take my head out of the idea that this comic has to make money or it's a failure. It's making me feel like when I was a kid, creating stories and drawing because I loved it and not because I thought I was going to get rich off of it. At this point I'm basically just creating because I love it, not for money or viewership. Those would be nice results, but I'll create regardless.
I think you just helped me avoid making a hundred-page mistake! This is good advice. I've seen plenty of other people talk about the whole "start small" method, but the way you presented it here felt different somehow. Maybe just having those examples to show off was what made the difference. Either way, thank you!
thats freaking wild just last week i started on comic and had it paced for 7 pages since it would be my first and so far im on the 4th page , real cool to see it come alive piece by peice
It's funny, the prologue for my graphic novel sequel is 6 pages, and could easily stand on it's own as a little short story instead of setting up events that happen later. I have ideas for little small stories with the characters as well, so I may just do this 6-page comic exercise as an excuse to do those before diving back into the big story I want to do next with them.
Thanks for another great video!! I started with several one-page comics, then moved on to a couple of four-page comics, and my first 16-page comic is in the lettering stage right now. Starting small is great advice for comics! 😊
Those are very good tips! It's so much better to find one's way in comics and level up while doing some smaller projects than jumping into an epic story and getting discouraged after 20 pages. Now I only wonder if my short comics were enough of a learning curve for me to be going for the epic rn :D
i kinda did that but for 5 pages way back and I'm trying to list those pain points after the fact. the points that tops my list are 1) i didn't write the stories and 2) i didn't get to finish inking them because i got swept with a comic job that actually did pay me (i really needed that money at that time). I'm answering those pain points bit by bit lately. your advice is helpful and I'd highly recommend it to comic artists and writers alike. for anyone who's interested with where to start: you can try a collab with a writer or friend for fun. be transparent, don't promise gold & glory if you know you're still a beginner and are still getting experience points from this exercise. but definitely do it for fun or at least follow your bliss aka draw what you think is fun. another is to illustrate a short story from the public domain if you're out of ideas on a story. you can remix it just don't plagarise.
This is A+ advice! I did something similar recently by challenging myself to make a 22 panel comic. I'm new to making comics and learned a ton about the craft by trying to make the story, dialogue, and imagery all fit together in within a constraint. Before doing this, I spent TOO MUCH time plotting a grand story without actually drawing anything! 😅
Firstly, kinda shocked seeing you with gray hair and beard, maybe cuz I haven't watch your videos for a while. Secondly, I rebooted my long term comic and over the past few years I did learn to make small project; looking back at them and feeling cringe, I start to improve my art a lot
Great video! Ive tried sime two page comics, and that was pretty cool but I like the idea of 6 pages to give you a bit more space. Any chance you can go over some examples of how your mentor tiers work? What can one expect with working with you? Appreciate it!
Thanks! It's based very much on what you need. It could be relatively simple like having a 2nd opinion on the comic. It could be tips on how to achieve X or Y, or it could be something slightly less tangible like an accountability partner/cheerleader/someone to help with motivation or productivity.
If you're unsure then there's a Q&A in the lower tiers where people ask questions once a week and I'm looking into getting a discord going. The mentorship is like a version of that but much more dedicated to the specific person, their comic(s) and their needs.
Depends what you want to do with it. If you want to print it then measure out the size of the printed page on A4. So if you want to print it as an 8'' x 10'' (roughly) then measure that out on A4 and use the margin as your bleed area. If you want to print it larger then it may be better to work on A3. If you don't care about printing or don't mind readjusting the size later digitally then the answer is simple: the only paper size that matters is what's the most comfortable for you.
Haha, I got my degree at Wrexham University. The Masters is strictly a Master of Design, but I did comics. Also, my degree says "illustration" on it which really triggers me.
I've been working (procrastinating) on my 300+ page graphic novel for years now, and I have heard and ignored the "start small" advice soooooo many times... but you've convinced me to actually do it. You've actually made some really good points that I've seen all over the place but never together. So yeah, I'm gonna be cursing YOU when I inevitable get frustrated with the 6 pager 😂 (jk, I appreciate all your videos)
That's great! I encourage you to become a Patron (free membership is fine!) because I'm looking into making a place for people to post their comics and get a community going beyond YT so we can all help each other keep going.
Two big things kept me from making my comic for a long time:
1. Everything has to be perfect. I was always convinced that I needed to have my "style" down before I started a comic. Last year I decided to just jump into the comic idea I've had for years. I'm now on issue 8 (each issue is anywhere from 20-30 pages) and while my art style has evolved from learning and trying new things each issue, it doesn't really bother me that much. I now have the first 5 issues printed in Volume 1 (sold it locally and will put it on my online shop soon). Which leads into number 2:
2. This comic needs to make money or I'm a failure. I'm really enjoying the process when I take my head out of the idea that this comic has to make money or it's a failure. It's making me feel like when I was a kid, creating stories and drawing because I loved it and not because I thought I was going to get rich off of it. At this point I'm basically just creating because I love it, not for money or viewership. Those would be nice results, but I'll create regardless.
This video is really great for all forms of content creation. This is a really helpful tool to keep in mind doing many things in life - well done.
I think you just helped me avoid making a hundred-page mistake! This is good advice. I've seen plenty of other people talk about the whole "start small" method, but the way you presented it here felt different somehow. Maybe just having those examples to show off was what made the difference.
Either way, thank you!
thats freaking wild just last week i started on comic and had it paced for 7 pages since it would be my first and so far im on the 4th page , real cool to see it come alive piece by peice
It's funny, the prologue for my graphic novel sequel is 6 pages, and could easily stand on it's own as a little short story instead of setting up events that happen later. I have ideas for little small stories with the characters as well, so I may just do this 6-page comic exercise as an excuse to do those before diving back into the big story I want to do next with them.
That sounds like a great idea!
Found this out when doing a 4 pages 16 panel short comic. Really gave me a boost when I actually finished something.
Genuinely good advice thank you
Thanks for another great video!! I started with several one-page comics, then moved on to a couple of four-page comics, and my first 16-page comic is in the lettering stage right now. Starting small is great advice for comics! 😊
Those are very good tips! It's so much better to find one's way in comics and level up while doing some smaller projects than jumping into an epic story and getting discouraged after 20 pages. Now I only wonder if my short comics were enough of a learning curve for me to be going for the epic rn :D
i kinda did that but for 5 pages way back and I'm trying to list those pain points after the fact. the points that tops my list are 1) i didn't write the stories and 2) i didn't get to finish inking them because i got swept with a comic job that actually did pay me (i really needed that money at that time). I'm answering those pain points bit by bit lately. your advice is helpful and I'd highly recommend it to comic artists and writers alike.
for anyone who's interested with where to start: you can try a collab with a writer or friend for fun. be transparent, don't promise gold & glory if you know you're still a beginner and are still getting experience points from this exercise. but definitely do it for fun or at least follow your bliss aka draw what you think is fun. another is to illustrate a short story from the public domain if you're out of ideas on a story. you can remix it just don't plagarise.
This is a very good advice, it's exactly what I did too
This is A+ advice! I did something similar recently by challenging myself to make a 22 panel comic. I'm new to making comics and learned a ton about the craft by trying to make the story, dialogue, and imagery all fit together in within a constraint. Before doing this, I spent TOO MUCH time plotting a grand story without actually drawing anything! 😅
Thanks for this. Imma do this but I wanna learning paneling so I'm researching that.
I just tried a short two page comic and ended up with a single splash page… 😅
Firstly, kinda shocked seeing you with gray hair and beard, maybe cuz I haven't watch your videos for a while.
Secondly, I rebooted my long term comic and over the past few years I did learn to make small project; looking back at them and feeling cringe, I start to improve my art a lot
I didn't have grey hair before? RUclips ages you.
Great to hear of your improvements!
Great video! Ive tried sime two page comics, and that was pretty cool but I like the idea of 6 pages to give you a bit more space. Any chance you can go over some examples of how your mentor tiers work? What can one expect with working with you? Appreciate it!
Thanks! It's based very much on what you need. It could be relatively simple like having a 2nd opinion on the comic. It could be tips on how to achieve X or Y, or it could be something slightly less tangible like an accountability partner/cheerleader/someone to help with motivation or productivity.
If you're unsure then there's a Q&A in the lower tiers where people ask questions once a week and I'm looking into getting a discord going. The mentorship is like a version of that but much more dedicated to the specific person, their comic(s) and their needs.
@BrinkleyComics thank you for responding, I'll check it out soon!
beginner question, is it better to go for A4 paper or smaller paper?
Depends what you want to do with it. If you want to print it then measure out the size of the printed page on A4. So if you want to print it as an 8'' x 10'' (roughly) then measure that out on A4 and use the margin as your bleed area.
If you want to print it larger then it may be better to work on A3.
If you don't care about printing or don't mind readjusting the size later digitally then the answer is simple: the only paper size that matters is what's the most comfortable for you.
This was so helpful! Also, which university provides a master's in comic art 😅? Would be nice to know.
Angouleme seems like the only one
Haha, I got my degree at Wrexham University. The Masters is strictly a Master of Design, but I did comics. Also, my degree says "illustration" on it which really triggers me.
@@BrinkleyComics thank you!
@@Harkonscabinet man these names seem like tongue twisters 😭🙏🏼
What is ignorance debt? You don't really explain the concept apart from telling us who said it, but not really explained what it actually is
It's basically a metaphor for learning. The original idea is about the cost of not learning something today that will incur a cost later on.
The ignorance debt idea does not work for me at all.
Debt wtf you talking about?
Love the video but Nah on that nonsense.
Stop saying it! Lol Oh it's so bad
Interesting how americans think of anything in terms of quantitative and money metaphors
Does that man sound American to you
@stardoogalaxie9314 howdy, y'all
@@stardoogalaxie9314 very much
Haha I’m not paying for your course
I don't have a course?
Wow, rude much?